How to Use “Is” and “Are” Correctly, With Examples

How to Use “Is” and “Are” Correctly, With Examples helps English learners avoid confusion and build daily confidence fast. Many English learners feel this topic trips up their confidence. At first glance, it seems simple, yet the devil in the details turns it into a tricky case. In the English language, few common verbs appear as often as is and are. You notice them in textbooks, on billboards, and keep hearing them in daily conversations. Still, using these small verbs correctly is not always easy. In my classes, a short talk about slowing down, to imagine real situations and check the subject before the next word, often changes everything.

When you are writing an email or chatting with a friend, you may pause at the next sentence and think, “Does this sound familiar?” It happens to countless people every day. We want our English to feel smooth and natural. The key is breaking down the usage with clear examples, then mastering the rules step by step. Focus on singular and plural subjects. A singular subject takes is: one book, “The book is on the table,” a singular noun. Plural subjects take are: multiple books, “The books are on the table,” a plural noun. It’s important to note exceptions, like the word you, which always takes are, whether single or plural, as in “You are welcome.” This simple rule is easy to remember and helps you use correctly the verb in any sentence.

From my experience, this is one of the most important skills in grammar. These small words can completely change the clarity of a sentence. Even advanced learners and native speakers get confused. When you practice daily, you write confidently, speak clearly, and avoid common mistakes. A helpful guide explains the rules, points out tricky exceptions, and offers practical examples to build real accuracy over time.

Understanding the Basics of “Is” and “Are”

At the core, “is” is used for singular subjects, and “are” is used for plural subjects. This is called subject-verb agreement. In simple terms, the verb must match the subject in number.

• Singular subject → use is
• Plural subject → use are

For example:

• She is reading a book.
• They are reading a book.

Even a small mistake with “is” and “are” can make a sentence sound awkward or incorrect. The key is to identify the subject first, then choose the correct verb.

Using “Is” for Singular Subjects

Rule of Thumb for Singular Nouns

When your subject is one person, place, thing, or idea, always use is.

Examples:

• The cat is sleeping.
• The book is on the table.
• My favorite movie is “Inception.”

Handling Singular Collective Nouns

Collective nouns like team, family, audience refer to a group but are considered one entity when acting together.

• Correct: The team is winning the championship.
• Incorrect: The team are winning the championship.

When the group acts as a single unit, always use “is”.

When to Use “Are” with Collective Nouns

If the focus is on individuals within the group, use are instead.

• The team are arguing about their strategy.
• The family are packing their bags separately.

Table: Singular Collective Nouns

Collective Noun	When to use “is”	When to use “are”
Team	Acting as one entity	Acting as individuals
Family	The family is happy together	Family members are arguing
Audience	The audience is clapping	The audience are taking their seats

Using “Are” for Plural Subjects

Rule of Thumb for Plural Nouns

Whenever your subject is more than one, use are.

Examples:

• Dogs are friendly animals.
• The chairs are in the corner.

Plural Collective Nouns

Some collective nouns feel singular but are actually plural in context:

• Several students are absent today.
• A few companies are merging this quarter.

Common Mistakes with Plural Subjects

• Using is with clearly plural nouns:
  • Wrong: The dog is barking.
  • Correct: The dogs are barking.
• Forgetting “are” with lists:
  • Wrong: Apples, oranges, and bananas is fresh.
  • Correct: Apples, oranges, and bananas are fresh.

Tricky Cases in Subject-Verb Agreement

English has several tricky situations that confuse learners.

Mass Nouns

Mass nouns like water, furniture, and information are treated as singular, even if they seem plural.

• The furniture is new.
• The information is accurate.

Phrases Like “A Number of” and “A Pair of”

• A number of → plural: A number of students are late.
• The number of → singular: The number of students is high.
• A pair of → singular: A pair of shoes is missing.

Indefinite Pronouns

• Everyone, someone, nobody → singular → use is

Examples:

• Everyone is excited about the trip.
• Nobody is allowed inside.

Idiomatic Expressions

• “A lot of, plenty of, a bunch of” → verb depends on the noun:
  • A lot of water is spilled.
  • A lot of apples are on the table.

“There Is” vs. “There Are”

When introducing something that exists, use:

• There is → singular or uncountable nouns
• There are → plural nouns

Examples:

• There is a book on the desk.
• There are three chairs in the room.
• There is milk in the fridge.
• There are many options to choose from.

Tip: Always look at the noun after “there”, not the closest word.

Advanced Tips and Common Mistakes

Even experienced writers can get tripped up by subtle rules.

Confusion with Dates, Time, and Amounts

• 5 dollars is enough.
• 10 hours are too long.
• 1.5 miles is a reasonable distance.

Collective Nouns Feeling Plural

Words like police, staff, government may feel plural but are often singular in American English:

• The staff is friendly.
• The police are investigating.

Questions and Negative Sentences

• Question: Is she coming to the party?
• Negative: They are not available today.

Memory Tricks

• If it can be counted individually → are
• If it acts as one unit → is
• If unsure → rewrite the sentence to clarify the subject

Examples in Everyday Context

Here’s how “is” and “are” appear naturally in real life.

Conversations

• She is going to the store, and he is staying home.
• They are planning a surprise party for her.

Emails

• Correct: There is a meeting scheduled for 3 PM.
• Correct: All team members are required to submit their reports.

Social Media

• Excited: There are so many new movies to watch!
• Observation: My cat is sleeping again.

Mini Table: Correct vs. Incorrect Usage

Sentence	Correct Usage	Incorrect Usage
Singular	She is happy	She are happy
Plural	They are tired	They is tired
Collective	The team is winning	The team are winning (as one)
Mass Noun	Water is essential	Water are essential

Conclusion

Mastering is and are may look small, yet it makes a big difference in your English. When you understand singular and plural subjects, remember the simple rule, and watch for exceptions like “you,” your sentences become clear and natural. Even advanced learners make mistakes, so steady practice matters. Focus on the subject, apply the rule, and your confidence will grow every day.

FAQs

Q1. What is the basic difference between “is” and “are”?

The basic difference is simple. “Is” is used with a singular subject, while “are” is used with plural subjects.

Q2. When should I use “is” in a sentence?

Use “is” when the subject is one person, place, or thing. For example: The book is on the table.

Q3. When should I use “are” in a sentence?

Use “are” when the subject is more than one. For example: The books are on the table.

Q4. Why does “you” always take “are”?

In English grammar, “you” always takes “are,” whether you are speaking to one person or many. For example: You are welcome.

Q5. Do native speakers make mistakes with “is” and “are”?

Yes, even native speakers sometimes get confused, especially in complex sentences. Careful proofreading helps avoid errors.